Oregon Outback Adventure
A full day of adventure in the Oregon Outback, capped off with stargazing at Fort Rock
Saturday, January 31st, 2026
about
Adventure: Join us for a day of exploration in the Oregon Outback. On our adventure, we will venture to three iconic landmarks: Hole In The Ground, Crack In The Ground, and Fort Rock. Each site is its own geologic marvel and tells a story rich in volcanic history!
Naturalist Guided Experience: Hole In The Ground looks like something out of a sci-fi fantasy book, a 300ft deep, mile wide crater in a sea of sagebrush. While it looks like the result of an ancient meteoroid striking Earth, it was actually created by a volcanic steam explosion known as a maar. After our scenic hike through the crater, we will venture to Crack In The Ground, an ancient volcanic fissure over 2 miles long! Typically fissures like Crack In The Ground become filled with rock and sediment over time however, because it is located in such an arid region, Crack In The Ground looks much like it did when it formed thousands of years ago. The last stop on our adventure will be the mighty Fort Rock, an ancient tuff ring that rises high above what used to be an ancient ocean bed and is home to some of the oldest evidence of human civilization in North America. We will arrive at Fort Rock as the day’s light fades to the west and the stars make their presence known in this world-renowned dark sky shed. Throughout the day’s journey, your Naturalist Guide will enliven you with stories of elemental power, painting a picture of how this stunning region of the Oregon Outback came to be!
details
$250 per person
Date & Tour Time:
Saturday, January 31st | 11:15am - 8:15pm
Transportation: Departing from our office
INCLUDES
Professional naturalist guide & award-winning interpretation
Adventure: Several inspiring hikes and stargazing within one of Oregon’s most spectacular volcanic tuff rings
Lunch: picnic style lunch
Drinks & Dessert: Hot cocoa & a local treat from Sparrow Bakery.
Transportation: Departing from our office
PLEASE BRING
Jacket/ layers for variable weather, hat, sunglasses
Temps will drop when the sun goes down!
Lunch, water & snacks - Wanderlust will provide a picnic style lunch but please bring additional food, snacks and water for the long day!
Camp chair or blanket (for stargazing)
Weather & Visibility: We are fortunate to be on the dry side of the Cascades, getting over 300 days of clear skies and sunshine per year. With that said, this tour will run regardless of rain or cloudy skies. You can learn more about our weather policy here.
Tour Minimums: The minimum total number of guests for this tour is 8. We will reach out 2 weeks prior to the tour date if we do not have 8 guests signed up.
You can find all of our Dark Sky & Stargazing focused Special Events and Daily Tours here!
Accessibility: If you are interested in joining the tour but have mobility challenges, please call our office and inquire about the use of an AdvenChair. You can learn more about the AdvenChair and specific tours tailored for accessibility here.
Hole in the Ground - photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Crack in the Ground - photo courtesy of Bureau of Land Management
Daily Tours that feature Stargazing
Starlight & Moonlight Canoe Tour
Starlight Snowshoe Tour
Starlight Cave Tour
Bonfire on the Snow Snowshoe Tour
